Cathy's blog on self catering holiday cottages

Be part of a brand new summer spectacle

on 24/11/2015

A cast of 1,000 characters and crew will stage a spectacle never before attempted on these shores when they come together to stage an epic show celebrating 2,000 years of English history in County Durham during the summer of 2016.

Kynren - the Anglo-Saxon word for family - will tell the story of kings, queens and ordinary folk down the generations, from Roman times to the 20th century.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of Auckland Castle, stunning visual effects are promised on the 7.5-acre stage which includes a lake.

With booking for the 90-minute show now open, it is anticipated that Kynren will appeal to audiences of all ages and provide a valuable boost to the local tourism industry.

A total of 14 evening shows will be staged, between Saturday, July 2 and Saturday, September 17, with organisers hoping to make it an annual event. To achieve its ambitious aim, Eleven Arches - the registered charity behind the enterprise - has collaborated with Puy du Fou, a company which has been successfully staging open-air spectacles at its theme park in the Vendee region of France for more than 30 years.

Any profits generated by Kynren will be ploughed back into staging future events and training the cast and crew of, largely local, volunteers. In this way, it is hoped that the nation's appetite for its history can be harnessed to provide a much-needed economic boost for the North East in modern times.

Kynren offers to be a memorable highlight for any visit to Bishop Auckland and the lovely Durham Dales area during 2016, More information on ticket prices, performance times, seating arrangements and booking details can be found at kynren.co.uk to view details and book.

If you are looking to take in one of the shows and explore the delights of Durham, here is a good selection of holiday cottages close to the Kynren venue to suit all budets from cottages.com and also Sykes Cottages